Forum on Misogyny and Hate Speech on Social Media

The Institute for Data, Democracy and Politics hosted an all female panel featuring U.S. and international lawmakers and other public figures who discussed their experiences with hateful and misogynistic content on social media and examined the consequences of digital platforms’ approaches to date.

The online event, the third and final in a series hosted by the George Washington University’s IDDP, highlighted how social media platforms have allowed hate to spread, especially against women, who are frequently subjected to misogynistic, crude, degrading and threatening harassment campaigns. The event also examined how social media platforms fail to enforce their own rules to protect women.

The GW event series is held in cooperation with the members of the International Grand Committee on Disinformation, a consortium of legislators working to protect consumers from social media disinformation.

The first event in the series, a June 16 panel on the harms of COVID-19-related disinformation, included senior lawmakers from the U.S., U.K. and Canada. The second event, a June 29 panel on disinformation and election interference, featured government leaders from the U.S. and abroad, as well as journalists and activists affected by such efforts.

Panelists included:

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.
Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif.
Christine Todd Whitman, president, The Whitman Strategy Group; former governor, New Jersey; former administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
Renate Künast, member of the German Bundestag
Seyi Akiwowo, founder and executive director, Glitch, former East London city councilor
Arisha Hatch, vice president, Color of Change

Event collateral:

Panelists bios can be found here.

Further information on misogyny and harassment online: